After a one-year trial, run financial challenges will force the Mission Bay High School Alumni Association to close the Seaside Farmers Market after Saturday, March 8.

The farmers market was established as a fundraising venue with 100 percent of the profits to benefit MBHS.

According to Pam Dietz, director of the alumni association, to continue for a second year, the board of directors was faced with the annual renewal of expensive insurance, permits and agricultural fees. Dietz said that most damaging was the weekly cost of union custodial services mandated by the San Diego Unified School District, which cut deeply into the market’s profit margin, making the venue cost prohibitive.

“The alumni association only exists to provide financial assistance for MBHS and, in the end, no matter how much we all wanted to continue Seaside Farmers Market due to the ‘fun’ factor, we needed to honestly decide as a nonprofit organization if it truly was the best use of our very limited volunteer and financial resources in order to maximize our fundraising efforts on behalf of MBHS,” said Dietz.

“After careful consideration we determined it was not but, as I always say, you never know unless it was a great run! We are proud not only of our financial donations to MBHS this past year but also that we increased awareness of the school and created a family friendly venue for our community to enjoy every week. We learned so much about the positive economic and environmental impact of shopping local and are extremely pleased we were able to support and promote local farmers, businesses and many talented musicians.”

Cori Meara, manager of the Seaside Farmers Market, also sung the praises of the weekly event. states

“This market has been a true labor of love,” said Meara. “I will miss my Saturdays with the vendors many who I feel are like family to me now and also visiting with our fabulous shoppers. The vendors always told me our shoppers were the nicest and friendliest out of all the markets they attend. What I am really going to miss though is saying ‘yes’ to MBHS teacher and student grant requests and writing checks to help out the school. I am looking forward to our next project with the MBHS Alumni Association so we can keep the checks coming.”

Currently, the MBHS Alumni Association is in the early stages of developing a memorial brick fundraising program in conjunction with the recent groundbreaking of the new $12.5 million stadium project schedule for completion spring, 2015.

“When one door closes another opens,” said Dietz. “This new project is perfect timing and we could not be more excited for the opportunity to manage the memorial brick project. We are confident it will surpass the Seaside Farmer’s Market’s annual profits and the MBHS Alumni Association will continue to proudly earn revenue in support of MBHS.”

During the market’s trial year, the Mission Bay High Alumni Association was able to fund the following:

Talk about putting lipstick on a pig! This farmers market was doomed from the get-go. A completely miss-managed operation. This failed attempt will hurt other efforts at providing MBHS with funds and puts a black-eye on other MBHS alumni who would like to contribute. Please, let experienced MBHS alumni with business and fundraising experience(whom there are many) coordinate fund raising in the future and quit trying to put a PR spin on your failures in a vain attempt to gain media coverage. Shame on you!